Bristol Rovers ended their home campaign with a 1-1 draw against lowly Gillingham, in a game that came to life in the final 10 minutes.

Stoke loanee Dom Telford continued his fine scoring form to give Bristol Rovers the lead with five minutes of normal time remaining, until Gills substitute Elliott List struck an equaliser in the last passage of play to take a share of the spoils.

A game that had little significance to either team in the weeks leading up to it, ended up becoming an affair with plenty of sentiment.

It was an emotional afternoon of goodbyes

After the Wigan draw a few days previous, it became public that long-serving left back Lee Brown would leave the club after the Gillingham game, so all of a sudden there was a different feel leading up to it.

Legendary Brown, unsurprisingly, got a wonderful reception both at the start of the game and during the lap of honour at the end and of the 9,700 plus fans in attendance, I don’t think many could come away and say there were not moved.

Even longer-serving PA announcer Nick Day turned off his microphone for the final time after interviewing Brown – his montage moment came at half time, where he received wonderful applause.

All of this as well as it being the final game at The Mem for our very own Jack Vittles.

All three in very different stages of their livelihoods, but all have held a place in the history of Rovers.

Gillingham ensure safety with last-gasp equaliser

Steve Lovell’s side were well within a shout for the playoffs - sitting five points and six places behind the top six – but have only managed a single win in their last 10 games.

Steve Lovell has kept Gillingham up

That run of form has seen the Kent club dragged back into the relegation picture, but List’s last-gasp equaliser gave them a valuable point, which coupled with Rochdale’s loss at Oxford guarantees Gillingham League One football next season.

A point that was deserved in a fairly uneventful fixture, where both sides were very limited until the latter stages of the second half.

There is one element of consistency at the moment, and it comes in the form of results

Darrell Clarke’s Rovers went all the way until Boxing Day, to find a first draw of the current campaign, in the stalemate at Walsall – a run of 34 games without one.

The Gas have had to share the points on nine of the last 21 occasions and what is more baffling is the recent string of draws…

Each of the last seven draws have ended one-one and four of those same scorelines have come in the last five games.

Where does Clarke need to strengthen his squad in the summer

There are plenty of areas to strengthen in the summer

The first half was another clear reminder of what the current Rovers XI lack - quick-thinking creativity and goals in mass amounts from a forward.

The gaffer has criticised his team in recent weeks for not being clinical in games, which has seen them drop points and although chances were few and far between, it will definitely look as another two points dropped.

The number one target on DC’s summer shopping list has to be a 20-goal-a-season striker...

What future does Dom Telford hold at Rovers?

But wait; could the club already have that man?

Dom Telford netted again for Rovers

Young striker Dom Telford has 15 goals in his last nine games and although practically all of them have come in the Central League, his prolific form and consistent performances haven’t gone unnoticed.

Telford made his introduction from the bench on the hour mark and after that, the tempo of the game increased.

His ball control is admirable and even though he lacks the physical presence, he is a sure threat in the opposition box.

I don’t think he has been given too many chances this season, but I hope the Burnley-born front man re-joins, even if it is on another loan deal.